Seasonal Variation of Bird Diversity in Dhaneshwor Baikiwa Community Forest, Kavrepalanchowk District, Nepal

Abstract

Seasonal Variation plays an important role in the survival of birds in any ecosystem as the availability of ecological requirements of birds varies with the variation in season. The study was carried out in Dhaneshwor Baikiwa Community Forest of Kavrepalanchowk District, Nepal with the main objective to explore the bird diversity and seasonal variation in the study area. Mackinnon’s Listing Method and Point Count Method was used for bird survey during winter and summer season. Altogether 20 visits were made, spending 10 days in each season in the field. Altogether 108 species belonging to 15 orders and 43 families were recorded. The highest species richness was found from order Passeriformes and Muscicapidae family. Among 108 species, 81 and 72 species of birds were recorded during winter and summer season while 45 species were observed during both seasons. Shannon winner diversity index showed the highest bird diversity and evenness during winter season (H= 3.929) (E=0.627) than during summer season (H=3.808) (E=0.625). Local occurrence status revealed that out of 108 birds recorded, seven species were very common, 15 species were common, 41 species were fairly common and 45 species were rare. Among 108 species, 79 species were resident, 13 species were winter visitor, 12 species were summer visitor and four species were passage migrant. Only one globally Vulnerable and one Nearly Threatened species i.e. Asian Woollyneck (Ciconia episcopus) and Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria), categorised in IUCN Red List were recorded; respectively. Different habitat types and the disturbance variables which included distance to the nearest settlement, livestock, fodder collection and number of human trails had significant effect on the bird diversity. Having knowledge on bird diversity in any specific habitat will further helps to understand the ecology of particular bird species.